Multiple-arm reproducer mechanism



F. 0. FARWELL. MULTIPLE ARM REPRODUCER MECHANISM.

r APPLICATION FILED FEB. H. I9l8.

'lllllllfllll F. 0-. FARWELL MULTIPLE ARM REPRODUCER MECHANISM- APPLICATION FILED FEB II 1918.

1,371,614. Patented Mar. 15; 1921. r

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 0. Tara e UNITED STATES FAY o. FARWELL, or 'DUBUQUE,

PATENT OFFICE.-

rowA.

MULTIPLE-ARM REPRODUCER MECHANISM.

Application filed February 11, 1918.

. marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the usual construction of phonographs, it hasbeen the practice to provide but a single reproducer arm which is rotatably mounted at one end and has a needle carrying sound box secured to the other end thereof.

This invention, however, pertains to an improved form of a phonograph reproducing mechanism in which a plurality of ad justable reproducing arms are provided attached to a single support rotatably mounted on the phonograph cabinet, whereby said arms may be simultaneously rotated to permit the" playing needles ,thereof to simultaneously engage 'in the same groove of a record to permit the diaphragm associated with each needle to transmit a recorded tone wave to an independent'megaphone to produce an apparently single tone of increased carrying power and volume.

It is an object of this invention to produce a phonograph provided with a plurality of simultaneously rotatable, adjustable reproducing means.

It is also an ob ect of the invention to produce a multiple arm reproducer mechanism provided with sound reproducing means disposed to receive and transmit both vertical and horizontal sound waves of different types of records.

Another object of this invention is the construction of a phonograph equipped with a plurality of reproducer arms adapted to rotate at the same time and each arm provided with a separate stylus and connected with a separate horn.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a rotatable reproducer mechanism comprising a rotatable mounting having a plurality of sound reproducing arms rotatably attached thereto, and equipped with sound reproducing means disposed at an angle with respect to each other, affording Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Serial No. 216,450.

a reproducer mechanism, wherein the diaphragms are sensitive to both vertical and horizontal sound waves of different types of records.

It is a further object of the invention to construct a phonograph equipped with a rotatable support .for carrying a plurality of adjustable reproducing means, disposed at an angle with respect to each other, and adapted to be rotated simultaneously with said support, and engage in practically the same point of a groove of any of the standard types of records to apparently produce a single tone of increased volume and carrying power.

It is an important object of this invention to construct an improved form of reproducing mechanism of simple and efiective construction. and havinga plurality of sound reproducing means simultaneously rotatable and each provided with an independent stylus, sound box, and horn.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a double arm reproducer mechanism embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 Fig. 3. r

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section with parts in elevation, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of a phonograph cabinet.

Fig. 9 is a side view thereof, partly broken away to show the horn construction.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5, of a modified form of the device.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, indicates a phonograph casing or cabinet of any desired design or form, provided with a horn chamber 2, in which horns or megaphones 3 and 4, respectively, are disposed with the enlarged open ends or flaring mouth said cabinet with the-openings therein comtherein one end of a I 4-5 Fig. 7, thereby affording fifioneend of an angled or the tone arms 16, is the inner projects. into one municating througgi suitable openings in said top board. otatably mounted upon the cabinet 1', is a record carrying disk or table 5, for rotatably carrying a record 6, to be played. 2

Mounted upon the top board of the cabinet 1, to the outside of the record carrying table 5, isa circular base plate, bearing plate or socket 7, having segment shaped openings 8 and 9, therein, separated by a diametrically disposed cross piece 10, integral with said socket 7. Said socket ismounted with the openings 8 and 9, thereof, registering with the openings in the cabinet top board and with the inner open ends of the horns 3 and 4, respectively. Rotatably seated in the socket 7, is a circular plate 11,

having integrally formed or rigidly securedthereon a standard or support 12, provided with an integral partition wall 13, which divides the support into two passagedparts, each of which is provided with a seat 14.

Secured in each of the passa ed parts of the support 12, is the inneror ower end of an elbow 15, the upper end of which is horizontally disposed and has rigidly secured tone arm, reproduce-r arm or connecting sleeve 16." Adjustably disposed in the other or outer end of each of end of a connecting tube, tone arm or sound tube 17 having integrally formed thereon a ball 18, provided with a small indent at the bottom inner end of an adthereof to receive the justable set screw 19, one of which projects upwardly through the bottom of each of the respective tone arms 16,as clearly shown in an adjustable pivotal support for each of said sound tubes 17.

To prevent 'a lateral swinging movement of the sound tubes 17 with respect to the arms,

16, one end of a resilient metal brace rod-or strap spring 21, is secured to the lower portion of each of the balls 18. Eachstrap 21,

mally contact a cross rod on shaft 42, dia- .metrically projecting through the arm-16.

shaft 42, is a grooved cam or finger 44, which 21, with rests upon the inner end of the stra strap to the groove thereof engaged on sai hold the sound in movement.

igidl'y secured centrally inner end of each of the on the u per of the arms 16, and has. the'inner end thereof bent upwardly to nor-.

shown in the drawings,

handle 43, to permit tube aga nst a lateral swmgtubes .1 is. Vcross sectioned 22, which extends into the respective arm rected upwardly. provided with an aperture 23, centrally in the top' thereof and near the outer end. A clamp 24, is engaged around each arm and has an upwardly directed lug 25, integrally formed at each end thereof disposed on opposite sides of the aperture 23, to afford a means for pivotally supporting an actuatingmember comprising an upwardly projecting integral handle or finger 27, and an integral foot or lever 28, which projects through the aperture 23, and has a V-shaped groove 29, formed in the rounded toe thereof.. Integrally' formed on one of the lugs 25, of each of said clamps 24, is a stop 30, for limiting the upward movement of thelever 28, which is normally swung'upwardly by the weight of the handle 27 The clamps 24, are prevented from sliding on the arms 16, by retaining screws 31.

Each of the arms 16, 1s

Each of the sound tubes 17, has a sdund removable needle or stylus point 34, is

mounted upon each sound box. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the cross piece 10, 1s provided with a sleeve 35, through which protition wall 13. Mounted on said bolt between the bolt head and the sleeve 35', is a spring 37, which holds the support 12, and

the plate 11, thereof, seated in position.

In the modified form of the device shown in Fig. 10, the construction is practically the same as that already described except that the sound tubes 17, are replaced by sound tubes 38, each having a sound box 39, secured thereto, in a plane parallel to the record 6. Each sound box is provided with a stylus 40, and a removable needle or stylus point 41. The inner ends of the tubes 38, are constructed the-same as the tubes 17 The operation is as follows:

As described, the phono raph is equipped with a plurality of-repro ucer-arms, all of which are secured to a single spring controlled support rota't'ably mounted upon the top of the cabinet 1, in a socket plate- 7. As two reproducerarms are disclosed, but. it will be understood that any convenient number of arms may be prod. The arms 16, are so disposed that -when in playing position, the needles 34,

33, are closely as supported b the styli sociated wit 'one' another to permit the same to engage the same groove of a record at the same'time, where y a plurality of similar tones are transmitted through the 'jects a bolt 36, which threads into the parsound boxes and thereproducer arms to the respective horns 3 and 4, to apparently produce but a single tone of increased volume and carrying power. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, it will be noted that the sound boxes 32, are disposed at right angles to one another, and at an angle of forty-five degrees to the plane of the record 6. This arrangement of the sound boxes permits the sound tubes 17, to be brought close together and positions the sound box diaphragms so that they are sensitive to both the vertical and horizontal sound waves of the various types of records. By simply placing a stylus needle of the type of record to be played, in position in the stylus, the reproducer mechanism is made universal andcapable of playing any type of record. I

\Vhile a record is being played, the needles 34. all track in the same groove of the record and as the needles advance across the record, the reproducer arms are simultaneously swung toward the center of the record, causing a rotation of the arm supporting member 1112, in the socket plate 7. The sound waves reproduced by the diaphragms of the sound boxes are transmitted through the respective sound tubes, reproducer arms, through the support 1l-12, and through the respective cabinet openings 8 and 9, to the horns 3 and 4, respectively. The openings 8 and 9, are so shaped that during the playing of a record, the lower open ends of the sleeves 15. do not pass out of register with said openings, the lengths of which are proportional to the are through which the reproducer arms swing during the playing of a record.

As shown in Fig. 7 the sound tube is in lowered or playing position, and the lever 28, is in raised position, due to the weight of the handle 27, which forces the lever up against the stop 30. When the playing of a record has been finished, the needles 34, are raised out of playing engagement with the record 6, by lifting both of the handles 27, at the same time, thus swinging the levers 28, downwardly, so that the grooves 29, thereof, engage over the angle levers 22, and depress the same, thereby causing the sound tubes to pivotally swing upwardly. The weight of the handles 27, being swung to the rear of the pivot point of the sound tube raising mechanism, the sound tubes and the respective needles 34, thereof. are held in an elevated position. The strap .springs21, of course, act to prevent lateral swinging of the sound tubes. Some types of records, such as the Path require the entire Weight of the reproducer to hold the playing needles. in proper playing contact with the record while other types of records such as the Edison require a light contact of the playing needles in the record grooves. To Varythe weight of the reproducer mechanism upon the record, the cranks 43, are

operated to move the fingers 44, downtone wardly against the strap springs 21, to force the same downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, thus causing the springs to exert a lifting tendency on the reproducer mechanisms. Vhen playing records where the full weight of the reproducer is re quired the springs are not depressed but contact the shafts 42.

It will of course, be understood that the sound boxes used may be disposed at any desired angle with respect to the record being played or in a plane parallel thereto, and that said sound boxes may be of different sizes with diaphragms of different thicknesses. Any convenient number of reproducing arms may be used, although only two are shown. The important feature of this invention is the construction of a multiuniversal reproducing mechanism adapted to play various types of records, and wherein a plurality of reproducing arms are used, each provided with its .own needle, stylus, sound tube and horn, but all mounted to permit simultaneous rotation thereof about a common axis. The needles of said reproducer arms are all closely associated with one another in approximately the same part of the same groove of a record to be played, to produce a multitone sounding apparently like a single tone, possessing the qualities of increased volume and carrying power.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without. departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rotatably mounted apertured tone arm, of a connecting tube adjustably mounted therein, an angled extension thereon extending into said arm, and means pivotally mounted on said arm-and projecting through the aperture therein adapted when actuated to contact said extension to elevate said. reproducing means out of playing position.

2. The combination with a tone arm having an aperture therein, of a connecting tube adjustably mounted therein, resilient means in said arm connected with said connecting tube to hold said connecting tube against swinging laterally, an extension on said connecting tube extending into said arm below the aperture, and grooved means pivotally mounted on said arm and extending through said aperture adapted when actuated to contact said extension to cause elevation of said connecting tube out of playing position.

3. A tone arm having an opening in the top thereof, means adjustably mounted thereon, and means pivotally mounted on said arm and projecting through said opening adapted to contact said first mentioned means to elevate the same out of playing position.

4. The combination with a tone arm, ofa connecting tube engaged therein, ing mechanism supported by said tube, and cam actuated means within said arm for varying the pressure of said reproducing mechanism upon a record to be played.

'5. T he-co mbination with a tone arm, of a tube engaged therein, resilient means secured at one end to said tube and projecting into the sound tube upon a recordbeing played.

said arm, and a cam in said arm for adjustably engaging the free end of said resilient means for regulating the pressure exerted by 6. The combination with a tone arm, of a sound tube engaged therein, a resilient member secured to sald sound tube .and .projecting mto said arm, a cam member engaged with said resilient member,'and means on said arm for actuating said cam member to adjust the resilient member for regulating the pressure exerted by said sound tube.-

7. The combination with a tone arm, ofa sound tube adjustably engaged therein, a

a reproducresilient member secured to said sound tube and projecting into said arm, a shaft projecting transversely through said arm, a cam member secured thereon and engaged with said resilient member, and a handle on said shaft to the outside of said arm to permit rotation of said cam member and adjustment of said sound tube to vary the pressure exerted thereby upon a record being played.

8. The combination with a tone arm having an opening therein, of a sound tube adjustably engaged therein, a projection secured to said sound tube and projecting intosaid arm, and means mounted on the exterior of said arm and projecting through said opening adapted to be actuated to engage said projection to cause elevation of said arm. 4

In testimony where f I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

FAY o. FARWELL.

Witnesses:

F. G. FARWELL, C. B. TREWIN. I 

